Q: I have recently acquired a veteran horse, Monty, from a relative who can’t look after him anymore. I think he’s around 20 years old, and though I’ve had him checked over by a vet, who said he was in good health, he has terrible bad breath. The vet said it was probably gum disease, caused by food getting stuck in a gap where Monty had lost a tooth. Is there a way to fill this gap so that he can get the gum disease cleared up and the food won’t get stuck anymore?
A: I would recommend that in this instance you ask a qualified equine dental technician or vet to have another look in your horse’s mouth, as there may be a number of other underlying factors that are contributing to Monty’s bad breath.
Food may be getting trapped in a variety of different places within the mouth, such as between his teeth. This may lead to gingivitis (gum disease), periodontal disease (infection of the gum or bone) and eventually tooth loss. Furthermore, it is essential that any horse with a missing tooth receives regular dental checks. This is because, with nothing to wear down the opposing tooth, it will continue to erupt into the gap, preventing the natural grinding action of the mouth. Unable to laterally grind his food, the horse will have no other option but to chew his food in an up-and-down fashion. This method of chewing prevents the forage from being rolled into a rope like structure on its way through the arcades (rows of teeth) towards the back of the mouth, and will not correctly wear down the teeth or clean them as it travels along. This incorrect eating action will encourage the trapping of food in the small gaps between the teeth, which will then start causing problems within the horse's mouth.
Your equine dental technician or vet should be able to evaluate Monty’s mouth and carry out the necessary dental treatment to allow him to grind his food in the correct manner. This in itself should help with the bad breath and gingivitis, hopefully preventing any further tooth loss.